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Aim for the sky and try not to miss!

Jim Flis:
A warm "hello" to everyone!  If you've dug down this deep, it is clear that you are not just interested in model rocketry and the company called "FlisKits, Inc.", but also in the people behind the scenes.  I am Jim Flis.  My partner in this endeavor is Brian McCarthy.

This page, though somewhat long, describes me to some detail.  Not just the rocketry interests and experience, but the other things that round me out,

Jim Flis
provide me with joy and fire my imagination.  Even for those of you who know me well will find a surprise or two in what follows.  I won't spend much time describing my founding of FlisKits, leaving that for the FlisKits section of the About area.   Rather I will focus on my hobbies, interests, family and fun.  I hope you enjoy this little preview of what makes me tick.  Within this, and other pages, you will occationally see thumbnail images that may be of interest. Clicking on the image will bring up a larger version.   Hit your browser BACK button to return to these pages.

Born in 1956 in Schenectady, New York. I was "7 of 8", with a family of siblings that span a full generation.  My family wasn't wealthy, rather it was humble.  Our biggest vacation was probably our family excursion to the 1964 New York Worlds Fair.  Other than that, I amused myself in the Adirondack mountains of New York, hiking and fishing in and around Schroon Lake.  My Grandfather, Elmer Huntley, taught me to fish and respect the outdoors.

In the spring of 1963 I happened to be walking home from school when I noticed two high school kids in a field near a local cemetery.  As I got closer I noticed a rocket shoot skyward.  As I approached them, they were loading the last model on the launch pad and chatted with me as they launched it.  I was enthralled!  I really had little idea of what I had seen.  These kids gave me little information other than to tell me that they were launching model rockets.  I didn't even know where to buy them (having never heard of a hobby-shop).  This is how my interest in model rocketry began.  Please follow this link to get the full story of my almost 40 years of model rocketry experience, fun and exploration!

Trout white_25x10.gif (830 bytes) I remember the Apollo 1 fire.  I remember crying with my mom when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.  I remember how excited I was when Skylab was launched and how distraught I was when Challenger crashed.  Needless to say, I'm an avid Star Trek fan, as well as a fan of the Simpson's.  I enjoy reading (mainly SF, science fact, poetry and computer books) as well as writing.  I am an avid fisherman, focusing on trout and bass throughout New Hampshire.  I also enjoy carp fishing and surf fishing (striped bass).  The ultimate though is fishing for king salmon on the Kenia river in Soldotna, 
Alaska.  Having made 3 trips there to visit my mom and sister, I've fallen in love with the state and can easily envision living there.

I enjoy woodworking (helps when turning nosecones), computers, gardening and photography.  I love the landscape of New England and often find myself enjoying the most beautiful sunrises as I fish from the surf of Plum Island along the coast.

During high school, my family (those who haven't already left home) moved to Florida.  Great place to fish and fly rockets, but the BUGS!   Right after high school I enrolled in DeVry Institute of Technology where I earned my ASET

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Sun Rise white_25x10.gif (830 bytes) degree and went on to work at Digital Equipment Corp [DEC] (then Compaq Computer Corp and now Hewlett Packard).   After several years of growth from manufacturing through engineering, I went back to school and earned my BSEE at the University of New Hampshire.  My primary involvement in my first 18 years at DEC was in the area of data communications, having designed many products for the company from low speed data comm to fiber optic Ethernet devices.  After that, I took a
job in technical support as a Systems Engineer for our new call center and from there got into web development and graphic arts, helping to develop and maintain a very large technical support website as well as teaching and developing staff within the call center.  In October of 2001, 3 months shy of my 25th anniversary, I was laid off from Compaq Computer corporation.

Fortunately for my sanity, it happened right in the middle of pumpkin carving season, so I had a relaxing activity to keep me occupied as I contemplated my future.   Over the years I've been involved in many

activities including running for public office and winning seats on our local School Board and School District Planning and Building Committee.  I've sat on the Budget committee, Library committee, 4th of July committee and many others, too numerous to list.  I am often invited to fly my model rockets at our 4th of July festivities as well as other celebrations throughout the state  white_25x10.gif (830 bytes) Pumpkin Carvings
of New Hampshire.  I am also invited to show/share my skills as a local artist and Master Pumpkin carver for area pumpkin festivals.   I've also spent many a summer, with my daughter and son, building full sized boats made of corrugated cardboard for our local library cardboard boat festival (another committee that I belong too...).
Jim and Kathy white_25x10.gif (830 bytes) I have a wonderful family, having married my high school sweetheart, Kathy, and raised two wonderful children (Joe and Jen).  Joe is currently enrolled at Clark University and Jennifer is entering her senior year of high school.   Joe is rapidly becoming an accomplished historian and English major.  Jen is the high school newspaper editor and web master and is our local computer geek (not counting her dad).  She is also an accomplished pumpkin carver herself,
and will be a master of the art before too long.  Another art form that Jen and I have both explored and enjoyed is Ukrainian egg decorating.  A craft we both learned from my mom, a very accomplished artist in her own right.  Kathy and I enjoy taking road trips around New England looking for remote areas to get away from it all and enjoy a day or weekend of hiking and off-road fun.

And that pretty much describes who I am.  You can find out more about me, my interests and hobbies at my personal web site at http://jflis.com/ including many images from my Alaska visits, model rocketry, pumpkin carving and cardboard boat racing.  Much of the site is yet to be written, but it gives me something to look forward to working on (as if I don't have enough activities as it is).

Thank you for visiting.

 

rockets! ROCKETS! lookit all the rockets!
"FlisKits make the best kits!"
TM

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